About the CWPPRA

Terraces, or chevrons, are created in order to encourage sediment deposition. These terraces also protect existing wetlands by reducing wave action in the shallow waters of Little Vermilion Bay, Louisiana.

What is CWPPRA?

The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) Program provides critical funding and support in the restoration, protection, conservation and enhancement of threatened wetlands in the Louisiana coastal zone. Under the Act, NOAA Fisheries, as well as all other participating federal and state agencies, plan and implement large-scale coastal wetlands restoration projects which are significant on a local and national level. For NOAA Fisheries and the state of Louisiana, CWPPRA provides the hope of sustaining a resource that is important to the local and national economic, recreational and cultural base.

Why is NOAA Fisheries Involved?

Within CWPPRA, the Department of Commerce (DOC) is identified as a member of the CWPPRA Task Force. NOAA Fisheries, which has regional field staff and responsibilities for protecting, conserving and restoring coastal habitats, represents the DOC on the Task Force. The primary goal of NOAA Fisheries is to sustain, protect and rebuild our nation’s living oceans. Healthy coastal wetlands in Louisiana are essential for achieving this goal. NOAA Fisheries approaches its CWPPRA projects with dual objectives: to stem the loss of coastal wetlands, and to increase fisheries habitat.

Wetlands protect us from storms, enrich our culture, sustain our economy and nurture our fishery resources. NOAA Fisheries is keenly aware of the value of wetlands and their vital link to fisheries. Louisiana ranks second only to Alaska in total pounds of commercial fish and shellfish landed, accounting for roughly 75 percent of the Gulf of Mexico landings, about 28 percent of the total volume of U.S. fisheries with a value of about $1 billion annually. The catch is comparable to the entire Atlantic seaboard, and triple that of the remaining Gulf states. Over 50,000 people are engaged in wetland dependent fisheries. The annual shrimp and oyster harvests supply 35 to 40 percent of the nation's needs.

Forging partnerships with the Department of Natural Resources and local parish governments has proven critical to the success of restoration projects and has resulted in the award of funding for 24 NOAA Fisheries CWPPRA projects that benefit over 100,000 acres of wetlands with construction budgets totaling nearly $120 million. Unlike most of the other Federal Task Force member agencies, Louisiana's DNR is the implementing agency for CWPPRA projects sponsored by NOAA Fisheries. Each project is funded to DNR by a cooperative agreement which supports the design, construction and monitoring of the project. This mechanism has allowed DNR to enhance its project management experience and to closely control the implementation of projects in its coastal zone.

How Does CWPPRA Work?

CWPPRA requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to establish a Task Force composed of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the Department of Commerce, represented by NOAA Fisheries; the Department of the Interior, represented by the Fish and Wildlife Service; the U.S. Department of Agriculture, represented by the Natural Resources Conservation Service; and the State of Louisiana, represented by the Office of the Governor. The Task Force annually prepares and submits to Congress a project priority list of wetland restoration projects in Louisiana. The selection process is based on the proposed project's technical (scientific and engineering merit), cost effectiveness and predicted benefits in terms of improving wetland quantity and quality. The Task Force was responsible for the preparation of a comprehensive coastal Restoration Plan for the State of Louisiana which was completed at the end of 1993. The Plan provides much of the basis for selecting future restoration projects.

Each CWPPRA project must be sponsored by a federal agency Task Force member for implementation. The Act utilizes a trust fund, which is supported by revenues from tax receipts on small engines and other equipment . Of the amount appropriated from this Fund, 70 percent (an amount not to exceed $70 million annually) is available for wetland restoration projects and associated activities in the State of Louisiana. CWPPRA mandates a cost-share agreement of 85 percent federal funds to 15 percent state funds for all Louisiana projects. Louisiana complies with this mandate by using the money in the State Coastal Restoration Trust Fund, which was created in 1989.

For more information on CWPPRA, visit: http://www.lacoast.gov/cwppra/index.htm